Minnesota's Firearm Deer Hunting Opener weather

Minnesota's 2023 Firearm Deer Hunting Opener is on Saturday, November 4.

Last year, Minnesota's 2022 Firearm Deer Hunting Opener on Saturday November 5 was a bit below normal. Temperatures were in the 30s and 40s in the central and south, with some rain in the southern half of the state. It was quite chilly in the north with morning temperatures in the teens.

The normal high temperature for The first weekend in November ranges from the upper 30s across northern Minnesota to the upper 40s near the Iowa border. The average low temperature is in the 20s to low 30s (most hunters begin early, near the time of the daily low temperature).

The historical probability of receiving measurable precipitation for the first week of November is approximately 25%. Early November precipitation often falls as snow in the north, while rain is more likely in the south. An enduring, winter-long snow cover is typically not established until later in November, even in northern Minnesota.

We've had snowfall on the Firearm Deer Hunting Opener as recently as 2019, when a mild start gave way to falling temperatures and wintry conditions. Light snows fell throughout northern Minnesota, and by Sunday the 10th, many areas saw temperatures in the single digits or teens. The last significant snow during the Opener was in 2017 in far northern Minnesota, when International Falls recorded accumulations of six inches.

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Temperatures and precipitation for International Falls, St. Cloud and Rochester for past Firearm Deer Hunting Openers

Past Weather for Firearm Deer Hunting Opener in International Falls
Year Date   Hi  Lo   Pre  Snowfall
--------------------------------
2022 Nov 5  38  15    0    0
2021 Nov 6  60  31    0    0 
2020 Nov 7  53  37    0    0
2019 Nov 9  30  23  .03   .5
2018 Nov 3  39  22    0    0
2017 Nov 4  33  24  .60    6
2016 Nov 5  68  27    0    0
2015 Nov 7  41  29    T    T
2014 Nov 8  33  21    T   .3
2013 Nov 9  35  33  .09   .4
2012 Nov 3  38  16    0    0
2011 Nov 5  56  36    T    0
2010 Nov 6  55  26  .01    0
2009 Nov 7  56  28    0    0
2008 Nov 8  30  21  .03   .8
2007 Nov 3  47  26    0    0
2006 Nov 4  32  12    T    T
2005 Nov 5  43  33  .14    0
2004 Nov 6  53  36    T    0
2003 Nov 4  25  22  .60  7.0
2002 Nov 9  41  34    0    0
(T = trace)
Past Weather for Firearm Deer Hunting Opener in St. Cloud
Year Date   Hi  Lo   Pre  Snowfall
--------------------------------
2022 Nov 5  47  23    0    0
2021 Nov 6  67  37    0    0
2020 Nov 7  69  56    0    0
2019 Nov 9  39  22  .07   .3
2018 Nov 3  44  31    T    0
2017 Nov 4  36  30  .01   .3
2016 Nov 5  72  33    0    0
2015 Nov 7  50  29    0    0
2014 Nov 8  43  33    0    0
2013 Nov 9  41  36    T    0
2012 Nov 3  39  32    T    T
2011 Nov 5  60  37    0    0
2010 Nov 6  58  30    0    0
2009 Nov 7  62  30    0    0
2008 Nov 8  35  27    T    T
2007 Nov 3  51  24    0    0
2006 Nov 4  51  28    0    0
2005 Nov 5  47  31  .08    0
2004 Nov 6  63  32    0    0
2003 Nov 4  33  28  .29  3.8
2002 Nov 9  50  34  .02    0
(T = trace)
Past Weather for Firearm Deer Hunting Opener in Rochester
Year Date   Hi  Lo   Pre  Snowfall
--------------------------------
2022 Nov 5  40  33  .30    0
2021 Nov 6  67  39    0    0
2020 Nov 7  71  54    0    0
2019 Nov 9  39  20    T    0
2018 Nov 3  44  33  .21    T 
2017 Nov 4  41  33  .13    T
2016 Nov 5  66	42  .05    0
2015 Nov 7  48  31    0    0
2014 Nov 8  43  34    0    0
2013 Nov 9  46  31    0    0
2012 Nov 3  47  37  .01    0
2011 Nov 5  55  38    0    0
2010 Nov 6  54  25    0    0
2009 Nov 7  67  42    0    0
2008 Nov 8  35  30  .04   .3
2007 Nov 3  52  28    T    0
2006 Nov 4  52  35  .05    T
2005 Nov 5  50  38  .04    0
2004 Nov 6  70  37    0    0
2003 Nov 4  37  31  .10    T
2002 Nov 9  56  37    0    0
(T = trace)